UP: Priyanka Gandhi first stopped then allowed to go to Agra to meet family of man who died in police custody

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has finally been granted permission to go to Agra after being detained for nearly two hours in Lucknow.

The Congress leader has been allowed to proceed to Agra with four persons since Section 144 is in place.

Earlier, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who was on her way to Agra to meet the family members of a man who died in police custody, was stopped at the Lucknow-Agra expressway on Wednesday, police said.

They said the Congress general secretary was stopped as the Agra district magistrate had requested not to allow any political personality to go there following the man's death. She was later detained by the Lucknow police and taken to Police Lines.

Videos from the scene show the Congress leader surrounded by many people including police personnel as she makes an attempt to go past them. The Congress leader can be heard saying in one of the videos, "I can't understand...you are stopping me from going wherever I go.."

The police official says that it is law and order issue and section 144 is already imposed.

Priyanka Gandhi then responds, "What is the law and order issue? Someone has died...we are just two-three people going to meet the family.."

In another video, the UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu asks the police officer whether Section 144 is imposed in Kushinagar or not where PM Modi is addressing a huge crowd of people.

You can watch the video here:

In another video, a few people including the police personnel can be seen manhandling UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu.

Later, Priyanka Gandhi tweeted in Hindi: "Arun Valmiki died in police custody. His family is asking for justice. I want to go and meet his family. What is the UP government afraid of? Why am I being stopped? Today is Valmiki Jayanti. PM made big statements about Mahatma Buddha, but is assaulting his (Buddha's) teachings."

In another tweet she said: "Beating someone to death in police custody- What kind of justice is this? Arun Valmiki's death in police custody is condemnable. On Valmiki Jayanti, the UP government has acted against the teachings of Maharishi Valmiki.

The incident should be probed by a high level committee, action should be taken against the involved police officials and the family should be given compensation."

In yet another video, Priyanka Gandhi was seen interacting with the women police officials:

Earlier on Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh police said that Arun Valmiki had died as his health deteriorated during interrogation. "During questioning he confessed to the crime. Police recovered Rs 15 Lakhs from his home, during recovery he fell ill. Police & his family rushed him to hospital. Doctor declared him brought dead. FIR registered, further action will be taken as per PM report", SSP Agra, Muniraj G was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

ADG Agra, Rajiv Krishna told ANI , "Our officers are in contact with his family. They're cooperating. Action will be taken if there was any negligence. Family has filed complaint, they suspect that he was beaten up by Police following which he died. FIR has been registered, the matter it will be probed."